KUALA LUMPUR: The president of a political party here has been arrested for allegedly being the mastermind of an identification document scam syndicate.
The 48-year-old leader of Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah – identified as Mohd Arshad Abdul Mualap – was detained in Subang Jaya on June 22, said Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.
The Home Minister said the party president and another man, 46-year-old Mohamad Amkah Ahmad, were charged in court yesterday.
“We believe the syndicate has been operating for at least a few months. They were selling invalid cards to those without Malaysian citizenship,” he told a press conference in Bukit Aman here yesterday.
The syndicate claimed that the cards, which were also equipped with QR codes, would give its holders various benefits, including medical and education, he added.
“The duo were detained under Section 420 of Penal Code for cheating.”
Hamzah said a foreigner abroad had tipped him off and police then took action.
“We believe the syndicate has duped hundreds of victims.”
It is learnt the syndicate sold the cards at between RM500 and RM1,000.
Hamzah said there were only four valid identification cards in the country.
“The blue card is issued to Malaysian citizens, the red card is for foreigners with Permanent Resident status, the green for foreigners who work in Malaysia and brown is for Malaysians convicted of severe crimes.
“In Sabah, temporary documents known as IMM13 are issued to foreigners by the Immigration Department,” he said.
Hamzah said the ministry had never allowed any other party to issue identification cards.
“I urge the public not to be fooled by such syndicates,” he said.
